At this time, I think all this bill got is publicity. With charter change and elections being prioritized in Congress, it is unlikely that anything will happen with this bill from now till May of next year.

9 comments:

Anonymous
said...

By adapting FOSS this will give our country the edge of innovating new products in ICT and encourage our students to become enterpreneurs instead of being dependent to technology of other country. This will help solve the brain drain that our country is having a problem, where people with skills go abroad for a greener pasture. It will also allow graduates to help in the economy of the country by becoming part of the front row in technological breakthroughs.

The absence of Software Patent is not detrimental of FOSS innovating new standards. And, one of the reasons why the ecology of FOSS is vibrant in leap and bounds. This proves that Software patent is not a need of being a driving force behind IT innovation.

FOSS is not anti-business as it allows one of selling the softwares or services and have been responsible behind the success of Thawte, Google, and outsourcing companies and freelancers in the Philippines employing FOSS. Today, FOSS have become viable of providing computerization needs and have surpassed security and stability of proprietary softwares.

The ability of implementors or service providers of extending the software proves that the adoption will not become limiting to ICT nor shall it limit the full potential of ICT. On the contrary, it challenges the ICT to provide technological solutions for public service without the need of exurbitant fees and expenditures. Billions have been spent and yet, little have been accomplished. Through FOSS, we can stretch that to building up IT infrastructure for the public good and avoid “technological hostage” from proprietary vendors or what we simply call vendor lock-in. Our country's reliance to proprietary vendors, whose known implementations are not in line with “Open Standards” will make it inevitable for us to continue spending billions with little gain.

FOSS can also help in fighting against “Software Piracy” that have become prevalent in our government and society. With the government adapting and interoperating on FOSS, one is not forced to resort to proprietary softwares. The money we spend going after Software Pirates can now be given to what matters most --- public service.

The PCS and the anti-FOSS Bill are spreading their ignorance on the opportunities and capabilities of FOSS for our country.

this guy doesn't know what he's talking about! dude, read the bill first before you go yacking about how good it will be for the economy. we're talking about the house bill, ok? not open source. nobody's going to deny the benefits of open source, but that's not the point!

The FOSS Bill promotes open source, and that is beneficial to the government and eventually to Filipinos in general.

The current software acquisition environment for the government is NOT a level playing field. Proprietary vendors are able to leverage the current dominance of proprietary platforms to sell even more proprietary software. They also encourage fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) about FOSS by claiming FOSS will either not be able to match proprietary software features, or by exaggerating the effort required to move to FOSS. The ignorance of many in government about FOSS also plays into the greedy hands of these FUD-mongering proprietary software peddlers.

The bottom line is that FOSS needs a little help, and that is what this bill does.

The bill mandates a preference for software that gives certain freedoms to users and developers (this is the result of the different FOSS licenses). It does not favor any technology, platform, vendor, or any source of software. It does favor the FREEDOMS given by the FOSS licenses, and there's no reason why this should not be the case. It is just a good a standard for evaluating software as any other standard.

The Philippines stands to benefit from the FOSS bill. Congress should pass it ASAP!!!

May I also add that government should be the first to protect the sovereignty and the opportunities of the citizens. Therefore, the government should always choose the route that assures sovereignty by using FOSS and not be hostaged by proprietary vendors decision of when "not to continue supporting a technological platform". More jobs and innovators will be created because FOSS is free from the encumbrance of Software Patents.

We call it Free Software because it's a matter of "Liberty" not price.

"we're talking about the house bill, ok? not open source. nobody's going to deny the benefits of open source, but that's not the point!"

Which translates to adapting with FOSS will be very beneficial for our country. Therefore, the FOSS bill should pass.

Where there is a FOSS solution, the government must adapt and give strong preference than choosing the Proprietary route. This will ensure that public information and services are accessible through known "Open Standards".

I am a Filipino IT professional in the US. FOSS is gaining ground now even in the US private sector primarily because of the rising cost of ownership for commercial software. FOSS is a natural fit for the Philippines since licensing cost is generally prohibitive for small and medium scale businesses. There is no stopping the trend at this point. Bill Gates himself expressed a while back that Linux and its derivatives (mostly FOSS) will compete with his company's products in the future. That future he was talking about is a reality now for the private sector. I worked for billion dollar companies and a number use FOSS. I support the FOSS bill.

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